All over the world, Copenhagen is known as the city of Hans Christian Andersen, so the main symbol of the Danish capital is the Little Mermaid monument. It is the most visited city not only in Denmark, but in all of Scandinavia. It is located on the bay and offers easy access to Stockholm and Oslo, as well as to Germany, the Netherlands and Poland.
According to clothingexpress, Copenhagen is a very compact and cozy city, there are almost no skyscrapers in it, but there are many old houses, parks and embankments. In the city center there is one of the longest pedestrian streets in Europe – Stroget. Copenhagen will be comfortable for both hikers and cyclists: half of the population moves on two wheels, the total length of bike paths exceeds 400 km. Most of the cultural events take place in spring and summer: the Night Film Festival, the Jazz Festival and the famous Copenhagen Carnival.
Communication and Wi-Fi
If you are visiting Copenhagen for a couple of days, there is no point in buying a local SIM card. When planning a longer trip, it is worth purchasing service packages from European telecom operators. The most popular cards are Telenor and Lebara, they are sold in many stores. The average cost of the minimum package is 100 DKK, this amount will already be on the account. A minute of conversation with a subscriber of a Russian operator will cost about 1 DKK, SMS – 2 DKK, which is more economical than connecting the roaming of Russian operators.
Most starter packages include 1 GB of traffic, which will allow you to share photos on social networks. To do this, you can also use free access to the Wi-Fi network, which is open in hotels and cafes.
Copenhagen Card
Copenhagen Card (off. site with English version) entitles you to travel by bus, train and metro throughout the metropolitan area. In addition, this card provides free access to over 60 museums and attractions, as well as discounts on shipping routes between Denmark and Sweden.
When buying a card, the date and time of the start of its validity are put on it. Without this information, the card is invalid. The reverse side must be signed by the owner. Cards are sold at hotels, railway stations and the Tourist Information Centre.
Copenhagen Card is available for 24, 48, 72 and 120 hours, for adults and children (from 10 to 15 years old inclusive). Cost for 24 hours (adult/child): 379/200 DKK; for 48 hours – 528/267 DKK, for 72 hours – 632/319 DKK, 120 hours – 840/424 DKK.
The beaches of Copenhagen
There are several free swimming areas open in Copenhagen during the summer. The main and most popular beach of the city – “Amager” – is located just 10 minutes drive from the center. It is located on one natural and several artificial islands. The northern part – 4 km of white sand – is intended for swimming, and the southern part is for picnics and games. There are separate areas for children and adults. This beach regularly receives the UNESCO Blue Flag award.
The newest beach in Copenhagen is Svanemölle, or Swan Mill. It can be reached on foot from Nordhavn station. The coastal area is shallow and suitable for children. For those who like to swim in deep water, there is a 130-meter pier.
The oldest bathing area is located on the coastline in the Icelands Bruges area. At the same time, 600 people can be in the pool complex.
Fans of extreme sports are more suitable for Copencabana beach. Three springboards with a height of 1.2 to 3 m have been built there, there is a diving pool. There is a hot water bath for children.
Strandden and Halvandet beaches are also popular. Both have no access to the water, but are great for sunbathing on a sun lounger, drinking cocktails, listening to live music and playing volleyball.
Shopping
The best place to shop in Copenhagen is the Strøget pedestrian area in the city centre. It houses shops for different tastes and budgets: from Prada and Louis Vuitton to Benetton and H&M. In the heart of the city are the oldest shopping centers: Illum and Magasin du Nord. The first is more expensive, it presents reputable brands, the second is aimed at a youth audience: here are collections from budding designers.
Every year in August, Fashion Week takes place, before, during and after which you can buy clothes and shoes of world brands with discounts in the city.
Denmark is famous for its porcelain. Royal Copenhagen has been supplying the royal court with services for over 200 years. Each item has a two-year warranty: if during this period you scratch the product, it will be replaced with a new one free of charge. Royal porcelain is prestigious and not cheap, a tea pair costs from 600 DKK.
For souvenirs like a mini version of the Little Mermaid and a miniature bicycle, go to Danish Souvenir Aps. Prices here are significantly lower than in shops at museums. A good gift for a child would be a Lego constructor. The company produces sets on current topics: from figurines of soldiers of the Second World War to Harry Potter and his wizard friends.
The opening hours of most shops are the same: from Monday to Thursday they are open from 9:30 to 19:00, on Fridays they are open until 20:00, on Saturdays they close around 17:00. On Sunday, all shops are closed except for kiosks and shopping centers.
The flea market is located in the Indre Bai area, not far from the Nerreport metro station. There you can find antique china, antique silverware, musical instruments, motorcycles, books and children’s toys. It is better to visit the market before lunch, while the assortment is large and the sellers have not had time to roll up the goods.
What to try
The real king of Danish cuisine is a sandwich called “smerrebred”. There are over 700 recipes for its preparation. The most popular ingredients are buttered rye bread, pieces of fish or meat, vegetables and homemade mayonnaise. Sandwiches are usually multi-layered, they are eaten for lunch as an independent dish.
Danish cuisine was formed under the influence of German and Scandinavian, so traditional dishes are high-calorie, simple and hearty: fried pork with red cabbage, herring with sauce, vegetable salads, thick berry jelly.
One day, a survey was conducted in the Kingdom so that residents would choose the most popular national dish. The result shocked everyone: the majority voted for meatballs in curry sauce.
For dessert, don’t miss the Danish rolls, which the locals call “Viennese bread” after the overseas bakers who first made them in Copenhagen over 100 years ago.
The Danes are very fond of beer, especially the national brands Carlsberg and Tuborg. Cherry Heering liqueur is popular among spirits. During the Christmas holidays, spiced wine is brewed – an analogue of German mulled wine.
Cafes and restaurants in Copenhagen
This year, critics of the Michelin Red Guide were generous and awarded 16 Copenhagen restaurants 20 “stars”: no other city in the world has more. The most titled institution is Geranium, marked with three distinctions. Going to a restaurant is an exciting game: a dish that looks like oysters turns out to be thin cakes dyed with cuttlefish ink. There is no menu as such, guests are offered a tasting set of 20 items, costing 2000 DKK. The check amount is similar in other Michelin-starred restaurants – Noma, AOC, Relæ. As in most similar establishments, a table must be booked in advance, three months before visiting.
The oldest operating restaurant in Copenhagen is the Little Pharmacy, where Andersen dined. The atmosphere of that era has been preserved in the institution: old stained-glass windows, lamps. A hot dish costs from 200 DKK, snacks – from 100 DKK.
It is difficult to call food in a simpler cafe cheap: lunch for one will cost about 300 DKK. For this money, you can have a hearty lunch of lamb steak, vegetable side dish, salad and coffee. In many cafes, you can save up to 10% by ordering takeaway food. The highest prices are in tourist cafes in the Tivoli Park and on the Nyhavn embankment.
Turkish and Thai eateries with a buffet are very popular among tourists: for 100 DKK you can eat as much as you like. For a light snack, street fast food chains are suitable. 75 DKK is a hot dog with a long and thin Danish sausage.
Weather
The climate in Denmark is temperate maritime: it does not differ in high temperature differences, but it is quite difficult to predict the weather for the coming days. The high season runs from May to August. Warm, rains are rare, so the time is ideal for tourists who want to combine cultural and beach holidays. From April to October shipping is open, on a cruise ship you can ride to the Baltic States and Northern Europe. The least suitable for trips to Copenhagen are winter and late autumn due to regular rains and strong winds from the sea. Even during the Christmas holidays, it is not uncommon for authorities to warn of an impending storm.
